I know, I have a 5 year USA, 5 year UK and Schengen but seems the Canadian visas are far more difficult to get than these (this is well known by developing country applicants). Something that ought to have been dealt with by ICANN. I had suggested to the Travel Constituency that having Canadian Government visa facilitation would help. They apparently do not have such facilitation available. There are other SO/AC reps who are still waiting to hear back from their Embassy. The Azerbaijan Govt for IGF and Senegal Govt for previous ICANN meetings were liaised with - before hosting an ICANN meeting this ought to be a criteria. Best regards, Zahid Jamil Barrister-at-law Jamil & Jamil Barristers-at-law 219-221 Central Hotel Annexe Merewether Road, Karachi. Pakistan Cell: +923008238230 Tel: +92 21 5680760 / 5685276 / 5655025 Fax: +92 21 5655026 www.jamilandjamil.com Notice / Disclaimer This message contains confidential information and its contents are being communicated only for the intended recipients . If you are not the intended recipient you should not disseminate, distribute or copy this e-mail. Please notify the sender immediately by e-mail if you have received this message by mistake and delete it from your system. The contents above may contain/are the intellectual property of Jamil & Jamil, Barristers-at-Law, and constitute privileged information protected by attorney client privilege. The reproduction, publication, use, amendment, modification of any kind whatsoever of any part or parts (including photocopying or storing it in any medium by electronic means whether or not transiently or incidentally or some other use of this communication) without prior written permission and consent of Jamil & Jamil is prohibited. Sent from my iPad On 18 Sep 2012, at 14:17, "Lanre Ajayi" <lanre@pinet.com.ng> wrote:

Zahid,

My experience is not too different from yours. I submitted my passport to the Canadian Embassy in Lagos, Nigeria on August 2, 2012 for a visa. I was told it may take up to 45 working days or 2 months before the visa could be ready for collection, if granted. I made an inquiry at the embassy ‘s visa processing center yesterday, to find out the state of my visa application and learnt that it could take up to 3 months before I can collect my passport, by which time ICANN meeting would have been over.

I, later, learnt that a way to expedite action on my visa application is to get the Canadian Government to intervene. This probably buttresses the point that is being made, that Government support be made an important factor when planning ICANN meetings.

Best regards,

Lanre Ajayi

From: owner-council@gnso.icann.org [mailto:owner-council@gnso.icann.org] On Behalf Of Stéphane Van Gelder Sent: Tuesday, September 18, 2012 9:45 AM To: Neuman Jeff; Zahid Jamil (zahid@dndrc.com) Cc: council@gnso.icann.org List Subject: Re: [council] Visa for ICANN Toronto refused by Canadian High Commission

Zahid,

Frankly I'm appalled. I will reach out to Heather personally. There is no way I am not having you there for my last week chairing the GNSO ;) I will keep you posted.

Stéphane Van Gelder Directeur Général / General manager INDOM NetNames France ---------------- Registry Relations and Strategy Director NetNames T: +33 (0)1 48 01 83 51 F: +33 (0)1 48 01 83 61

Le 18 sept. 2012 à 01:13, Neuman, Jeff a écrit :

Zahid,

Sorry to hear this and frankly this should not happen. Stephane, can we reach out to Heather to see if there is something she may be able to do?

Sent with Good (www.good.com)

-----Original Message----- From: Zahid Jamil [mailto:zahid@dndrc.com] Sent: Monday, September 17, 2012 06:25 PM Eastern Standard Time To: council@gnso.icann.org List Subject: [council] Visa for ICANN Toronto refused by Canadian High Commission

Dear Councillors,

I applied today at the Canadian High Commission at London for my visa for the ICANN meeting with invitation letter etc. Without even asking any questions it was flatly refused.

Apparently, the High Commission wouldn't even speak to the ICANN staff.

Guess I may not be seeing you all in Toronto.

May be an idea to ensure Government support before accepting requests to host ICANN meetings next time. For all the grievances at least the Senaglese gave everyone visas on arrival.

Sincerely,

Zahid Jamil Barrister-at-law Jamil & Jamil Barristers-at-law 219-221 Central Hotel Annexe Merewether Road, Karachi. Pakistan Cell: +923008238230 Tel: +92 21 5680760 / 5685276 / 5655025 Fax: +92 21 5655026 www.jamilandjamil.com

Notice / Disclaimer This message contains confidential information and its contents are being communicated only for the intended recipients . If you are not the intended recipient you should not disseminate, distribute or copy this e-mail. Please notify the sender immediately by e-mail if you have received this message by mistake and delete it from your system. The contents above may contain/are the intellectual property of Jamil & Jamil, Barristers-at-Law, and constitute privileged information protected by attorney client privilege. The reproduction, publication, use, amendment, modification of any kind whatsoever of any part or parts (including photocopying or storing it in any medium by electronic means whether or not transiently or incidentally or some other use of this communication) without prior written permission and consent of Jamil & Jamil is prohibited.

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